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Rescue teams have escorted all of the remaining adventurers near the eastern slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to security, including hundreds of regional escorts and animal tenders, authorities stated. This marks the end one of the largest rescue and recovery operations ever undertaken in the region.

Massive Rescue Effort Concluded

Hundreds of trekkers were left stranded in heavy snow over the recent weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an unexpectedly fierce winter blast unleashed heavy snowfall across the area.

Snow kept coming down throughout Saturday in the valley, which rests at an typical altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had led approximately 350 hikers to security.

Earlier reports had indicated that the last group of roughly 200 travelers were expected to reach a secure area by Tuesday.

In total, 580 hikers, coupled with more than 300 local guides, livestock herders, and other assistants were rescued, according to authoritative reports released on Tuesday night.

Those Rescued Describe Severe Situations

One Chinese hiker shared how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, compelling them to remove it every 90 minutes. They chose to move to lower ground on Sunday as the conditions deteriorated.

“On the way, we came across our guide’s father, who had come looking for him. That’s when we realized the snow was heavy in the valley, too; local residents, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Climbing Plans Thwarted

The severe weather also disrupted the goals of mountaineers escorted by a American climbing firm to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the frontier between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Visitor Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first discovered by western travelers a long time ago. In the past few years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a significant travel destination, the area has brought in an increasing number of travelers. More than 540,000 sightseers explored the Everest region last year, establishing a new record.

Area Remains Closed

The Everest region is still temporarily off-limits to the general public, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Effect

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also affected hundreds of hikers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Unfortunately, at least one traveler succumbed, due to a blend of exposure and high-altitude illness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a peak season for the area, with usually clear and mild weather, but one member of an 18-person trekking group that got back to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “unusual.”